Husky Participates in Industry Effort to Help Rebuild Slave Lake

November 29, 2012

Slave Lake, Alberta - Husky is joining forces with its industry peers to help rebuild Slave Lake and surrounding areas following the fires of May 2011.

On November 27, the Slave Lake Tri-Council announced that Husky and 11 other oil and gas companies have come together to donate $6.4 million toward a new Community Arts & Day Care Centre in support of the community's ongoing rebuilding efforts. With approximately 35 employees living and working in the community, and many others originating from the Slave Lake area, Husky has committed $500,000 toward the initiative.

"I continue to be inspired by the positivity and strength of our employees in and around the Slave Lake area," said Wayne Ogrodnick, Manager of Northern Plains Assets. "Under the most difficult circumstances, these individuals have worked to rebuild their community. It is a privilege to be able to assist them."

The Community Arts & Day Care Centre comes as Slave Lake shifts from meeting the short-term emergency needs of its residents to more long-term planning.

"This initiative reflects the resiliency of our communities," said Town of Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee. "It will provide a lasting tribute to the positive spirit that emerged after the disastrous wildfires that consumed so much of our Town and region."

The industry group has been working collaboratively with the Slave Lake Tri-Council (comprised of the Town of Slave Lake, MD of Lesser Slaver River and the Sawridge First Nation) to identify the right project. The Tri-Council conducted a community stakeholder engagement process over the summer to identify the new Community Arts & Day Care Centre as the best use of the donation funds. The Centre will be built on the existing Elks Lodge site and include a day care, playground, theatre with lobby, multi-use space for social events, various community programs and other needs as required by the community.

"This initiative is all about collaboration," said Rob Symonds, Senior Vice President of Western Canada Production. "I hope that together - as an industry, as employees and as a community - we can make a long-term positive impact on Slave Lake's restoration efforts."